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C. LAND UTILIZATION Not all occupied land can be classified as at present developed, or even capable of full development. As at 31st January, 1944, there were approximately 43,000,000 acres of occupied land in the Dominion, of which 23,000,000 (approximately), or 53-86 per cent., were classified as unimproved. This does not mean that this land is unproductive or unusued, but rather that it has not been cultivated. The following table' shows the total area of this unimproved occupied land in January, 1942, classified as to its coverage : Table No. 73.—Table showing Total Area of Occupied Unimproved Land in 1942 classified as to its Coverage Coverage. Acres. Phormium (New Zealand flax) .. .. .. 47,264 Tussock and other native grasses .. .. .. 13,869,330 Fern, scrub, and second growth .. .. .. 4,349,575 Standing native bush .. .. .. .. 2,885,884 Barren and unproductive land .. .. .. 2,010,573 Total .. .. .. .. .. 23,162,626 Some of the phormium area is being cut regularly. A large proportion of the tussock and native grass country is used for extensive sheep grazing, particularly in the South Island, as is also some proportion of the fern, scrub, and second growth country. Some of the standing native bush country is being milled. In general, however, this class of country is in very large holdings and is unsuitable for closer settlement. As perhaps further indicative of the unsaitability for developmental purposes of this class of land, the following table shows the relative area occupied, cultivated, and unimproved over a period of years :

Table No. 74. —Table showing the Cultivated, Unimproved, and Occupied Areas at Selected Periods from 1891 to 1944

The above table illustrates the point made earlier that certain areas, while suitable for extensive sheep-farming, are quite unsuitable for intensive farming in smaller areas. The actual area of occupied land has varied little over the past fifty years. The gradual decline since 1920 in unimproved areas, coupled with the gradual extension of the cultivated area, would indicate some slight development, but the extent is relatively unimportant.

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Year. CultivatedUnimproved. Total Occupied. Acres. Acres. Acres. 1891 8,524,662 10,862,867 19,397,529 1896 .. 10,779,226 22,532,986 33,312,212 1901 12,728,617 22,182,956 34,911,573 1906 14,233,629 21,823,731 37,167,460 1911 .. * * * 1916 16,595,590 24,366,603 41,262,193 1920 18,004,776 25,468,303 43,473,079 1925 18,510,558 25,122,714 43,632,372 1930 19,156,074 24,212,579 43,368,653 1935 .. 19,474,519 23,630,040 43,104,559 1941 .. 19,906,656 22,981,681 42,888,337 1944 19,829,999 23,148,310 42,978,309 * Not available.